Aquino back from Indonesia, Singapore visits

President Benigno Aquino III arrived home late Friday night from state visits to Indonesia and Singapore this week. Aquino and his delegation arrived past 11 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and outlined the gains of his visit. The gains he cited included cooperation as well as potential investments from the Philippines' two Southeast Asian neighbors. In his arrival statement, Aquino said traders in Singapore and Indonesia were heartened to learn of the Philippines' pro-business policies, as well as more infrastructure being built in the Philippines. While in Indonesia, Aquino received a red carpet welcome and witnessed the signing of memorandums of understanding on education, sports, and crime prevention. The two countries also agreed to begin talks leading to a maritime boundary agreement pursuant to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Aquino also expressed support for the success of Indonesia as Association of Southeast Asian Nations chair this year. In Singapore, Aquino made it to the front pages of a major local newspaper – when he had to climb 20 flights of stairs after an elevator broke down.—JV, GMA News